Trading Habits and Mindset Questionnaire

Use these ten questions to explore controlled risk taking, discipline, reward chasing, responses to setbacks and willingness to learn. The aim is to identify current habits you can discuss or change, rather than decide what kind of person you are.

Choose one answer per question based on your typical behaviour during the past four weeks, not your ideal response. Use the most recent relevant trading period if you have been inactive. Consider what happened across several sessions rather than one unusual day.

If you have not encountered a situation, write E beside the question. New traders may use actual simulation experience and note that context. Do not guess how you would behave with live money. Complete the questions before reading the interpretation guide.

Context:  ☐ Live trading   ☐ Simulation   ☐ Mixed     Period considered: __________________

This is an original educational reflection tool, not a validated personality test, clinical assessment or predictor of trading profitability.

1  A setup meets your written criteria, but the trade could still lose. What do you usually do?

☐ A  Avoid it because I need to feel almost certain before entering.

☐ B  Check the planned exposure and act only if it fits my limits.

☐ C  Increase my exposure because a strong setup deserves a bigger bet.

☐ D  Take it, but sometimes decide the amount to risk at the last moment.

2  You are approaching your planned stopping limit after losses. What usually happens next?

☐ A  I continue until I recover enough to feel comfortable stopping.

☐ B  I sometimes extend the session if another opportunity looks promising.

☐ C  I follow the limit, although I occasionally need a reminder or prompt.

☐ D  I stop as planned and leave the review for a calmer time.

3  You miss a move that you were watching. What do you usually do?

☐ A  Wait for a fresh setup that independently meets my criteria.

☐ B  Watch for a fresh setup, but sometimes relax one entry condition.

☐ C  Enter quickly because I do not want to miss any more of the move.

☐ D  Usually wait, although the missed move sometimes affects my next decision.

Trading decisions in practice

4  A trade loses despite following your plan. What is your usual response?

☐ A  I know losses happen, but I sometimes hesitate on the next valid setup.

☐ B  I feel I need another trade to repair the loss or restore my confidence.

☐ C  I record the result and review it alongside other comparable trades.

☐ D  I conclude I am poor at trading and lose confidence in the entire approach.

5  A review reveals the same execution mistake several times. What do you usually do?

☐ A  Assume I am simply not the kind of person who can change this habit.

☐ B  Identify a trigger and practise a specific response, then review whether it helps.

☐ C  Promise myself to try harder, without changing how I prepare or practise.

☐ D  Choose a useful adjustment, but do not always follow through on the review.

6  You are deciding how much exposure to take on a trade. Which best describes your usual approach?

☐ A  I increase exposure when I feel excited or when the previous trade lost.

☐ B  I stay extremely small or avoid the trade because any loss feels unacceptable.

☐ C  I calculate exposure within my limits, but occasionally make exceptions.

☐ D  I use a defined sizing method that stays within my planned limits.

7  The market is quiet and none of your setups is present. What do you usually do?

☐ A  Keep waiting or finish the session if my plan says there is nothing to do.

☐ B  Find a reason to trade because spending time without a trade feels wasted.

☐ C  Usually wait, but occasionally take a marginal setup out of boredom.

☐ D  Add an untested setup so I can participate in the session.

Emotions and learning

8  After several profitable trades, what happens to your next trading decision?

☐ A  I mostly keep the same rules, but sometimes loosen one condition.

☐ B  I materially increase exposure because I feel I have found my rhythm.

☐ C  I keep exposure and entry rules within the documented plan.

☐ D  I take extra trades or expand targets without a planned reason.

9  When stress or frustration rises during a session, what do you usually do?

☐ A  Notice it only after it has affected a trade, then review what happened.

☐ B  Use a preplanned pause or stopping rule before making another decision.

☐ C  Keep trading because a profitable result seems likely to settle the feeling.

☐ D  Try to push through, although I notice that my decisions become less consistent.

10  Someone gives specific feedback that challenges your trading approach. What do you usually do?

☐ A  Dismiss it because changing my approach would mean admitting I was wrong.

☐ B  Consider it, but usually leave it as something to think about later.

☐ C  Agree to a relevant test or change, but do not consistently check the result.

☐ D  Check the evidence, test a relevant suggestion and review the result.

Take the next step: Use your responses as a starting point for reflection, then explore Your Relationship with Trading Questionnaire to consider the purpose and pressures behind your trading.